As expected one of the opposition groups has launched a legal challenge in the High Court against the Planning Inspectorate's decision to allow Bristol Airport's appeal against North Somerset Council's decision to reject the airport's planning application to increase its annual passenger cap to 12 mppa with related infrastructure expansion. The group believes the three planning inspectors erred in law in coming to their decision.
North Somerset Council will not challenge the decision. The leader of the council said that a legal challenge would carry 'a high level of risk' and result in 'significant further costs'.
He went on to say, 'A legal challenge through the High Court can only be successful if the inspectors can be shown to have erred in law. Unfortunately our disagreement with the inspectors' conclusions on the planning merits is not a relevant ground for challenge'.